Beirut:
Syrian state television is reporting that a "huge explosion" in the northern city of Aleppo has leveled a hotel and several other buildings in a government-held area.
A local activist group called the Sham News Network also reported the blast Thursday in Aleppo, saying that government troops were based in the hotel.
The television report identified the hotel as the Charlton hotel.
There was no other immediate word on what caused the blast.
Aleppo, the country's largest city and former commercial hub, is carved up into rebel-held and government-held halves.